When entering a courthouse for the first time people are often anxious and intimidated. There are many people with various jobs and not knowing who they are or what they are doing can be overwhelming. Below you will find a description of the various people working in the Seattle Municipal Court.

The people on the main floor

Security Screeners

When you enter the Seattle Municipal Courthouse the first people you will see are the security screeners. You will be asked to remove anything from your pockets and place your purse or bag and the contents of your pockets onto an X-ray screener similar to those you see at the airport.

No sharp or threatening objects are allowed into the courthouse, so if you carry tools for work or have a small pocket knife on your key chain, it is wise to leave these things at home or in your car.

Court Marshal

Directly ahead when you pass through the metal detector you will see a court marshal. The courthouse is staffed with marshals.  They are the police of the court. Their job is to ensure the safety of all who enter the courthouse. They also transport individuals who are in jail custody to and from the courtrooms.

Main Floor Clerks

On the main floor there are several clerks behind a long counter on the eastern wall. You do not need to stop at this counter on your way into court. These people handle the financial workings of the court, schedule community service hours and assist with some post sentencing scheduling. You will only need to speak with them if you are instructed to do so by court room staff or your attorney.

Where do I go next?

You will proceed to the elevators and go to the floor where your case is being heard. You should have received this courtroom assignment directly from a police officer, in the mail, or from the court staff at a previous hearing. If you have forgotten which court room to go to, there is a list in a white binder just before the metal detector.

There are three courtrooms on each of the court floors of the Seattle Municipal court. They are numbered from 1-3 beginning at the north end of the building and they have the floor number before them. For instance, if your courtroom number is 903 it will be the third courtroom on the south end of the ninth floor. If your courtroom number is 1102 you will proceed to the middle courtroom on the eleventh floor. You should go to your courtroom and wait for the door to be unlocked. You should then enter the courtroom and sit down. Your lawyer will find you in the courtroom. It is always important you have a seat in the courtroom, even if you do not see your attorney. Attorneys are frequently discussing your case with the city prosecutor and will find you as soon as they are able. The court may call out the names of the defendants on the calendar and it is important that you confirm your presence.

Inside the courtroom

The Prosecutors

There are many people who work in the courtroom. There are two small tables in each courtroom, one for the prosecutor and one for the defense. The city will have a prosecutor present in the courtroom. One of the things that is unique about the Seattle Municipal Court is that they have two prosecutors assigned to each courtroom everyday. The prosecutor who is in the courtroom is referred to as the "inside prosecutor." The inside prosecutor will handle the case before the judge. The other prosecutor sits in a small room adjacent to the courtroom and has the job of facilitating the city’s case with the defense attorneys. This prosecutor is the "outside prosecutor." It is possible that neither of these prosecutors will be the one handling your specific case. You will not see your attorney discussing your case with the inside prosecutor as all discussions at Seattle Municipal Court with the prosecutors happen outside of the court room, either with the outside prosecutor or a prosecutor who is specifically assigned to your case.

Defense Counsel

You will notice many other people who seem to be attorneys going in and out of the courtroom and calling out people’s names. Many of these people are public defenders who work on contract with the city to defend the indigent. You will also see other private attorneys moving about in a similar fashion. The Seattle Municipal Court is generally a very busy place.

Bailiff and Clerks

On one side of the room you will see the jury box. When a case goes to trial this is where the jury is seated so that they are able to see and hear all of the parties and witnesses to the case. Often, when there is not a trial in progress, attorneys or interpreters sit in the jury box while they wait for their cases to be called. Across the room from the jury box is the bailiff’s desk. The bailiff is a part of what is called "the lower bench." The lower bench consists of the people who work for the court and support the judge. The bailiff’s job at Seattle Municipal Court is to make certain that the court room stays in smooth working order. They call the court to order when the judge enters or leaves the court (you will be asked to stand whenever the judge is coming or going) they also process paperwork that needs to be exchanged between the court and the defendant. Most often, this happens at the end of your case.

Directly below where the judge sits at Seattle Municipal Court, there are two clerks. The clerks handle the documenting and record keeping that transpires during all of the hearings. There is much information exchanged, and it is the clerk’s job to make certain that all of the relevant and important information is noted for the record. The clerk’s also keep the judge’s calendar and set the dates for subsequent hearings. They will be very busy throughout the hearing and you will never have direct contact with them. Your attorney will approach the lower bench with paperwork but you will never be asked to approach the lower bench.

The Judge

Finally, the Judge sits front and center in the courtroom. Your attorney will do virtually all of the talking to the judge at your early hearings and you should only speak to a judge directly if instructed to do so by your attorney. Everything in the courtroom is being recorded and it is important that you protect your right to remain silent. The judge knows and understands this and has no expectation that you will be doing any speaking beyond acknowledging your new court dates and answering simple yes or no questions.

Throughout the court process your attorney will be your guide, but we hope that this brief description of the people at the Seattle Municipal Courthouse will make you feel a little more relaxed about what to expect along the way.